VZCZCXRO6377
RR RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2720 3261209
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221209Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5315
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002720 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/SPG, AF/PD, IIP/G/AF, AND RRU-AF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OIIP PREL PGOV PINR PHUM SU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION TO "PLAN B" FOR SUDAN 
 
 
¶1.  Several Sudanese newspapers carried stories about Special Envoy 
for Sudan Andrew Natsios' November 20 press briefing in which he 
referred to a "Plan B" for Sudan.  Some included the entire 
briefing.  There were only two editorials about Darfur and "Plan B," 
although we would expect there to be more reflection on this issue 
in the coming days. 
 
¶2.  The independent Arabic daily "Al-Ayaam" published an editorial 
November 22 under the headline, "Race with time in Darfur, Part I," 
by well-regarded Editor-in-chief Mahgoub Mohammed Salih.  Salih 
reviewed the recent chronology of events, including the UN-AU-GOS 
meeting in Addis Ababa, the Tripoli mini-summit, and Special Envoy 
for Sudan Andrew Natsios' statements to the Brookings Institute as 
well as his State Department press briefing in which he referred to 
a "Plan B" for Sudan.  The final weeks of 2006 are going to be a 
"critical time" for Darfur, Salih opined.  Salih described the 
situation in Darfur as "complicated," because of the many 
initiatives on the table, and he further warned that it may be 
difficult to escape from the "dark tunnel" of Darfur.  Salih was 
pessimistic about the resolution of the crisis, stating that there 
seems to be "no light at the end of the tunnel." 
 
¶3.  The independent English daily "The Citizen" published an 
editorial November 22 entitled, "Minawi getting fed up, Natsios 
threatens Plan B."  The editorial refers to Natsios' press briefing, 
saying that Natsios "noted that there are people in the government 
who believe a military solution is the best approach to the Darfur 
crisis.  That is such a gross understatement that we are wondering 
whether Natsios has the whole historical picture of the Darfur 
crisis in mind and really knows what is going on in Sudan.  Mr. 
Natsios, please reflect on the Colin Powell declaration when he 
visited Darfur, look at what has been going on in Darfur up to now 
and think again about what you have just said.  With the focus of 
attacks being civilians, a military solution means nothing less than 
genocide."  Although "The Citizen" did not speculate what "Plan B" 
might entail, "we have not forgotten [British Prime Minister] 
Blair's talk about a 'Coalition of the Willing' that would confront 
both Khartoum and the UN with a fait accompli in Darfur, meaning 
invasion from Chad and Central African Republic, both of which are 
building their own cases against Khartoum.  It is better to be wise 
and careful than regretting folly when it's too late.  That message 
is for NCP [Sudan's ruling National Congress Party]." 
 
HUME